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Chaffee Provides Training For UAFS ROTC Cadets

The Army M4 weapons went to their shoulders, and shots rang out. It wasn’t a combat situation, but it seemed real for a group of ROTC cadets from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

Maj. Kevin Cox of Lincoln, assistant professor of military science at UAFS, said the training held Thursday at Fort Chaffee allowed the cadets to become “intimately familiar” with their weapon system in a safe environment.

“And this was without the high costs normally associated with a range operation,” Cox said. “The weapons looked and felt identical to the Army’s actual systems. Plus, the integrated recoil and feedback of the weapons afforded cadets a very realistic training experience.”

The weapons used in the Firearms Training System (FATS) exercise used air and sound effects instead of ammunition. The simulation took place on 12 firing lanes with an interactive virtual training platform for small arms training.

“Soldiers can participate in numerous shoot/don’t shoot scenarios,” Cox said. “The system is designed to teach marksmanship fundamentals and proper range procedures, as well as increase a soldier’s confidence prior to a live-fire qualification.”

In addition to the FATS training, the students participated in other exercises with Virtual Battlespace.

“This is a computer suite of 53 laptop computers capable of providing small unit collective training and key leader development, all with a virtual gaming experience,” Cox said. “It allows soldiers to drive virtual vehicles and fire virtual weapons in real-time simulated combat situations. This interactive simulation is particularly conducive for facilitating rehearsals during the ‘crawl’ training stage, prior to actually executing live missions in the field during the ‘run’ training stage.”

But before the cadets could “play” Virtual Battlespace, Cox said they had to learn the “buttonology” portion of the system.

“Cadets first spent approximately 30 minutes learning the system,” he said. “This taught them how to navigate and maneuver on the virtual battlefield as well as load and fire their virtual weapons.”

What followed was like a real combat situation, where some were assigned to particular leadership positions, orders were issued and cadets were given a time to complete their mission plans.

“The cadets then executed an ambush against an opposing force,” Cox said. “This VBS2 Exercise was a first for UAFS. It allowed cadets a great opportunity to practice all their troop leading procedures in a controlled environment.”

Cox said a cadet’s daily experience is somewhat different than that of other college students.

“Cadets conduct physical training three times per week,” he said. “They attend a weekly lecture and participate in a weekly lab. Our UAFS labs are routinely conducted at Fort Chaffee due to its proximity to the campus and the numerous training opportunities it offers.”

In addition to simulator training, ROTC labs include day and night land navigation and situational training exercises with paint-ball weapons.

“Our cadets also have the opportunity to attend additional training events during their summer break,” he said. “Some attend Air Assault, Airborne and Mountain Warfare Schools. Others travel to foreign countries for three weeks while participating in the Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency Program.”

UAFS began operating a ROTC program in 2005, transporting students from UAFS to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. In spring 2010, the school began offering the program on the UAFS campus.

“Since that time, the UAFS ROTC enrollment has grown from five cadets to today’s 40,” said Cox, who was assigned to UAFS by the Arkansas Army National Guard in January.

Cox said ROTC can help cover college costs for students, offering various two-, three- and four-year scholarships.

“These scholarships are in addition to the other education benefits already available to cadets who have prior military service or who are current members of the Army National Guard or Reserves,” he said. “Prior or current military affiliation isn’t required, however.”